BY: Cheryl Smith
Walking into the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia made me realize I needed a lifeline.
When I consider the numerous deaths, especially in the past eight months, or maybe the ball of confusion that I wake up to every day of destruction and distraction.
With, the numerous assaults and challenges we face, everyone needs a lifeline, especially if they have a heart and a conscience.
Many feel helpless as they deal with the world’s problems. Then you have the real perpetrators, who are better off focusing on tearing down and destroying the lives of others, and especially those who are the closest to them.
We absolutely must not only keep our eyes on the prize, we must also identify the enemy instead of beating up on the innocent.
I’ve been coming to the National Association of Black Journalists Conventions for almost 40 years.
I feel like I’m at a family reunion because there are some who I talk to or see once a year, and others once a week.
And there are still others I may talk to once a decade. All I know is that when we get together, the feeling of being in the space with someone who understands your journey, trials and challenges can be very comforting.
I would encourage anyone to find people who share the same life experiences as you—folks with whom you can have candid, sincere conversations, knowing that each of you just wants the best for one another.
At least eight Black publishers have died since our last NABJ convention. Equally as disturbing is knowing that publications will cease to print.
As we sit on the cusp of celebrating 200 years of the Black Press in 2027, I can’t help but feel a little pressure because we must save our greatest form of preserving our history.
With the banning of books at least for now the Black Press is protected.
As I spoke to and received advice from so many of my colleagues from across the country, I felt energized and look forward to continuing to operate as one of the soldiers without a sword.
I could leave and go home after the first day of the convention because there was so much love flowing that I felt adequately armed to get back in the fight.
Our conversations over lunch, in the lobby or elevator, or while waiting in line to check in were uplifting, inspiring and informative.
So, I have five more days before it is back to life, back to reality.
I received my annual dose of love and happiness and my tank is full, so I can go out there and do like so many before me have done — speak truth to power, stand up to fight, and celebrate others who are doing the same.
